After last months article by Rev Keith Small, questions were asked from certain section of the Muslim community requesting for clarity in terms of what are the real beliefs one should have in relation to Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him. 'The Muslim Jesus' aired on ITV in August raised quite a few eyebrows by many Muslims and Christians, who are truly unaware and uninformed about the Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him, of the Quran and the Muslim belief of the Prophets in general. Rev Keith was correct in having found that many Muslims are uninformed about the Jesus of the Bible and Christian belief. I would firstly like to thank him for the Christian perspective, I hope and pray that it will increase understanding between faith communities.

So what are the beliefs of the Muslim in relation to Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him? What are the teachings of the Holy Quran?

Before I start answering any of the above questions, a prerequisite for any constructive dialogue is that both communities should not learn about each other through sources that are unsympathetic, critical, or even hostile: they should rather try to formulate an honest idea as to how the other faith is seen in its own authentic scriptures and as practiced by those who are truly committed to it. The tenets of Islam are similar to those of other religions; the religion teaches unity, tolerance, respect for each other, sanctity of life and all good ethical values of human life. For Muslims religious tolerance is a serious religious obligation. They must be a force against all intolerance, even that which is promoted in the guise of tolerance and faith.

Muslims have deep respect and love for all the prophets and messengers whom the Almighty chose to convey his message to mankind. The names of many of them are already known to us from the Quran (Ebrahim/Abraham, Moosa/Moses, Haroon/Aaron, Nooh/Noah and others).

Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him, is mentioned by name in twenty-five places in the Holy Quran. He is ,also addressed with respect as: "Ibn Maryam" son of Mary; as Masih Messiah translated as Christ; "Abdullah" servant of Allah; "Rasulullah" Messenger of Allah. He is spoken of as "the word of God", as "the spirit of God", as a "sign of God", and numerous other epithets of honour spread over fifteen different chapters.

The Holy Quran honours this great Messenger of the Almighty. The very nature of the birth of Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him, is so special that God compares the uniqueness of his creation to that of the first man and prophet, Adam peace be upon him.

Lo! The likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is. (AaI' lmran 3:59). Isa (Jesus) peace be upon him, is considered one of five great prophets sent by The Almighty to man. He is worthy of the utmost honour and respect as a prophet of Allah to the Children of Israel. He was neither an incarnation of God nor God's son, and he never claimed to be. We believe that Jesus was a human being, miraculously born of a virgin, and that he was a prophet and messenger of the Almighty. He miraculously spoke as a baby in the cradle, and later performed other miracles such as healing the sick and raising the dead by the grace of Almighty.

He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; And He hath made me blessed whosesoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; (He) hath made-me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!" (Maryam 19:26-33).

To deny that Jesus was a prophet of God is to disbelieve in Islam. According to Islam, Jesus peace be upon him was not crucified but was raised up to be with God until a time in the future when God will return him to earth to complete his mission. He did not die for the sins of mankind; each person will be accountable for his/her deeds before The Almighty on the Day of Judgment. No one can pay for the sins of others. The Quran confirms that Jesus was raised up by God, and the. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him reassured us that Jesus peace be upon him will be sent down to earth once again before the Day of Judgment in order to re-establish justice and the proper worship of the one Creator.

That they rejected Faith; that they uttered against Mary a grave false charge. And because" of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger they slew him not nor crucified him, but. it appeared so unto them; and lo! Those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain. Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is exalted in Power, Wise. (An-Nisaa' 4:156-158).

Christians and Muslims comprise nearly half of the world's population. The nature of the relationship between these two communities is of considerable significance for the welfare of the whole human family. I would just like to end with a quote from Hans Kung described by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord George Carey as the greatest living theologian: "The options have become clear: rivalry amongst the religions, a clash of civilizations, war between nations, or a dialogue of civilizations and peace between the religions as a harbinger of peace among nations. Faced with a deadly threat to all humankind, shouldn't we demolish the walls of prejudice stone by stone and build bridges of dialogue, including bridges to Islam, rather than erect new barriers of hatred, vengeance, and hostility?"

Mufti Yusuf Akudi
IMWS, AI-Hikmah Centre, Batley